Non-government Organizations in Jaffna peninsula accuse Sri Lanka government to have abandoned most of the uprooted families resettled in Jaffna peninsula without providing them adequate assistance for rehabilitation. 82,000 uprooted persons had been resettled in Jaffna peninsula so far, according to Jaffna Secretariat statistics. Meanwhile, nearly 100,000 persons uprooted from Valikaamam North High Security Zone of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) twenty years ago continue to stay with their relatives, friends and in camps not allowed by SLA to resettle in their own properties.
Altogether 81,578 persons of 27,401 uprooted families have been resettled in Jaffna peninsula.
The highest number of persons is resettled in the islets of Jaffna – 11,526 persons of 3,669 families while in Thenmaraadchi area 10,543 persons of 3,581 families are resettled.
5,411 persons of 1,732 families have returned to their houses in Thenmaraadchi and 4,128 persons of 1,112 families have been resettled in the villages located on the outskirts of SLA High Security Zone in Valikaamam North.
The most affected among the resettled people are the families uprooted from Vanni during the war as Sri Lanka government had left them on their own after paying them the first payment of Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 25,000 as final payment as assistance to begin their lives.
The uprooted families from Vanni too are temporarily staying with their relatives and friends in Jaffna peninsula.
The NGOs in Jaffna peninsula due to limitations imposed on them by Sri Lanka government in getting funds from abroad are unable to help the abandoned families to help them engage in livelihoods, NGO sources said.